Run II Review Closeout 15 Sept., 2005 FNAL

Thanks! …all the hard work from the reviewees –And all the speakers …hospitality of our hosts Good progress since the last review. Things ARE working.

Data Handling See word doc…

Remote Analysis/Production(1) The committee commends D0 for their extensive use of offsite resources during their data reprocessing using SAMGrid and promoting its development. This was viewed as a great success. We commend CDF for their use of offsite resources for their Monte Carlo production. The committee commends CDF for new developments utilizing existing standard grid tools (Condor glide-in) to extend their functional environment to remote resources. The reliance on external connectivity of worker nodes will be a serious limitation to their access to available resources; we encourage them to develop the infrastructure to eliminate this impediment. Whatever method is chosen for grid job submission, CDF needs a data model with a data manager, SAM, for example, that is tightly integrated with managed storage (storage elements). We are concerned that the manpower devoted the Condor glide-in development effort is insufficient. The committee would like CDF to better-define their model for offsite computing (analysis and central tasks). Specifically, how are they planning to utilize grid resources to meet their needs? A better understanding of the CDF analysis model may produce economies of resources, on-site and off-site.

Remote Analysis/Production(2) The CD is to be strongly commended for their long term vision of common solutions for computing and storage infrastructure. Fermigrid seemed like a great idea last year, and now it seems like a requirement. It is also leveraged as a useful testbed for experiment-based infrastructure development. The progress in making SAMGrid more robust and scaleable is duly noted. We strongly encourage the continued evolution of SAMGrid to OSG/LCG interoperability. The committee is concerned about the “heavyweight” intrusive nature of the SAMGrid installation. We would like to see SAMGrid evolve to using only standards-based interfaces available on vanilla grid resources. We are encouraged that the SAMGrid team want to integrate managed storage (such as SRM). The committee feels that investment of personnel resources in continued development and investment in Fermigrid infrastructure will lead to efficiencies in the management, access, and use of future global resources. Both experiments indicated a future need to pursue user analysis offsite. We recommend that each experiment try to assess the obstacles they face in obtaining all of the offsite resources they project will be necessary, and work with the CD to develop a detailed plan to overcome these obstacles. As the LHC computing needs ramp up after the start of LHC data-taking, the computing and storage resources that have been “free” for use in Run II computing may become scarce. We encourage each of the experiments to engage now in a discussion with the offsite computing sources they have identified in order to negotiate the level of future access to these resources, and the interfaces that will be required. These should be formalized as MOUs.

Networking Plan to get to the MAN is good—need to implement ASAP CDF has run into network bottlenecks, so the network should be closely monitored. Can the Starlight network be exploited to improve Run II remote production? DB Support The new contract with Oracle (5 yr) seems to solve immediate problems. Exploring different options was a good plan, but now does not seem to be needed.

Infrastructure CD should investigate how to migrate from RH7.3 immediately CD should investigate (build/buy) monitoring tools to help the experiments to better predict needed disk to tape ratio, retirement rate, caching strategies, etc..

Planning/Management/Funding(1) The CDF hardware resource ramp up profile (cpu, disk, tape) needs more scrutiny –Last minute changes at this review give the impression that further refinement is needed to get accurate assessment for CPU and disk needs The CDF strategy of waiting until disks die may cause more disruptions than a planned retirement. The CDF model relied on large disks (in 2008 e.g.). They should consider the risks of this strategy (loss of IO throughput capability, large loss if 1 disk dies, etc.) The experiments need to secure remote resources (via MOUs) especially in light of the LHC ramp up. CD should adequately prepare for the space, power and cooling requirements implied by the experiments needs. The experiments should not ignore these cost implications. –Space seems under control (based on our tour!)

Planning/Management/Funding(2) D0 has significantly sped up their reconstruction software in the past year. Given the cost of needed hardware for the coming years, it is imperative that emphasis be placed on further optimization in this regard. Fallback plan for CDF if dCache-based analysis disk pool is not workable –We heard that the current fallback plan is to simply rely on the future availability of larger disks. Collaboration should indicate a stronger commitment to making dCache work. If this really fails, other alternatives such as xrootd need to be considered.

Planning/Management/Funding(3) Personnel/Manpower –optimize use of available manpower within CD and CDF/D0 for day-to-day tasks. –Take steps to reduce vulnerability due to limited number of suitably qualified experts for “service” tasks, (for example D0 code management & database support) –We urge careful review of the Run II task force recommendations on computing by the collaborations. It was noted that CDF needs more “day to day operational support” for Sam/dCache. This should be investigated: automate/improve wherever possible (incl. re-evaluating impact of large number of small files).